Hosiery board and package



Jan. 7, 1964 J. c. BERRY 3,116,830

HOSIERY BOARD AND PACKAGE Filed Nov. l2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Jan. 7,'1964 J. c. BERRY HosIERY BOARD AND PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

Filed Nov. 12, 1959 FIG. 8

INVENTOR JOHN C. BEER Y ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,116,830 HGSIERY BOARD AND PACKAGE John C. Berry, 1708 Arrowhead Drive, Durham, N.C. Fiied Nov. l2, 1959, Ser. No. 852,500 '7 Claims. (Cl. 24M- 79) The present invention relates to a means for boarding, packaging and displaying hosiery and relates more particularly to a size coordinated stocking supporting member suitable for retaining a stocking or a pair of stockings thereon and for formulating a suitably sized hosiery display package.

The presentation of half-hose or stockings made with stretchable yarns or nylon, generally referred to as stretch socks, has met with substantial commercial acceptance primarily since the mounting of the individual or a pair of socks on an insert member, as more fully shown in my Patent No. 2,696,295 and in Patent No. 2,748,930, primarily because the stockings may be presented in a more appealable manner. Utilization of a foldable, non-breakable cardboard insert so as to partially tension the stretchable fabric has to a considerable eX- tent eliminated some of the boarding operations customarily performed to remove wrinkles and creases in stretch hosiery. However, this manner of packaging and displaying hosiery has been limited considerably to stretchable hosiery wherein the size of the cardboard inserts have been limited to a minimum number of different sizes within the designated ranges for children, misses, boys and mens sizes.

Hosiery knit with non-elastic or non-stretchable yarns or nylon, generally referred to as size goods or hosiery, has not found significant utilization in conjunction with a foldable insert as the resulting hosiery packages vary considerably in overall length depending upon the actual foot size or length in the foot portion of the stockings. These different foot lengths result in varied length hosiery packages.

It is conventional practice in the iinishing operations for hosiery to Wet process sized stockings and subject the wet stockings to a drying operation known as boarding In the boarding operation, individual stockings must be placed manually on corresponding sized heated forms or boards individually for a drying period or interval in order to remove any wrinkles or creases which may occur in the stockings in order to improve the general overall appearance. When dried, the individual stockings are removed manually from the heated forms, and, after pairing, are packaged by applying suitable identification to the stockings in the form of packaging labels and bands. The resulting package is not only too limp and without su'icient body to present an attractive display unit, and, generally, cannot be displayed readily except in a horizontal position on a counter. Repeated handling by customers will not only wrinkle the packaged stockings but will frequently promote mismating of the stockings displayed.

Although sized stockings boarded on a heated form will conform to the form size, the actual foot volume, in some instances, may vary considerably, and in the relaxed condition may differ from the other stockings boarded on the same forms due to inadvertence or lack or accurate controls in the knitting or other processing operations. Hosiery customers are obligated to accept the size designations normally appearing on the hosiery by means of a transfer or printed label on the hosiery package without having any further assurances that the stockings have complied with length and volume speciiications in the foot portion particuarly.

Therefore, this invention contemplates the utilization of a foldable stocking insert which will present a controlled and coordinated stocking package that will preiatented dan. 7, fod

sent an overall dimension of preselected length for stockings having Varying foot lengths.

his invention has for another objective the provision 0f a substantially stiff foldable stocking insert having a controlled plane surface area dimension at least in the foot portion that is correlated, within limits, to the volume of the foot size for each particular stocking size.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a stocking insert that will readily indicate the quality of fit for the particular size stocking that will be supported on the insert.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a foldable stocking insert of selective sizes which will correspond with sized hosiery and which will support a single or a pair of stockings thereon, in a slightly tensioned condition, to remove any wrinkles or creases which may appear in the hosiery thereby reducing the cost of processing incident to boarding.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of a stocking size coordinated foldable stocking insert board in which the varying foot length sizes for stockings to be supported on the individual boards may be accommodated by varying the length of the toe section of the board from a predetermined position in the foot section of the stocking insert board.

Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a size coordinated foldable stocking insert that will be suitable for displaying various sizes within a compact area, including horizontal or vertical displays, and to present an attractive and pleasing appearance for the hosiery within a semi-rigid package.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a novel unitary hosiery package that provides assurances to the customer that the size and t conditions conform to accepted hosiery standards.

For a further objective, this invention contemplates the presentation of a novel package that may be displayed in suitable display cabinets for self-service without consuming substantial display area.

Other objectives and many of the attendant advantages of this novel stocking foldable insert and package will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FlG. l illustrates two stocking-receiving foldable insert members, in flat extended positions, for different stocking foot lengths;

FIG. 2 is a at plane view of a hosiery package in which a pair of stockings are supported on a stocking-receiving insert member;

FlG. 3 is an end View of the hosiery package of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fiat plane view of the package of FIGS. 2 and 3 including an initial fold intermediate the foot portion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a hosiery-receiving envelope;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, including the foot portion of the package of FIG. 4 after it has been introduced into the envelope shown in FlG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front View of the iinal folded hosiery package; and

FIG. 8 is a rear View of the hosiery package of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. l, there is illustrated, in extended form, two stockingrecei-ving insert members or boards A and B which are substantially identical to each other except for the overall foot portion lengths. Board A, designated as l0, is shorter in the overall foot portion length than board B, designa-ted as 1l, in order to receive correspondingly different foot length stockings thereon. For simplification,

D a detailed description of board or insert member will be sucient and the differences between boards 10 an-d 11 will be noted hereinafter.

The insert member or board i@ is made preferably of cardboard, paperboard or other suitable sheet material that is relatively stiff or semi-rigid with suicient flexability to be folded without fracturing, breaking or parting. The insert is preferably of sufficient weight and rigidity to support a stocking or pair of stockings thereon in a slightly tensioned condition, without folding or curling longitudinally or transversely when a stocking or stockings are placed thereon. A cardboard having a thickness of approximately 0.020 to 0.025 has been found suitable for certain stockings, however, the thickness of the board will vary depending upon the weight and the knitted construction of the stockings to be supported thereon. The upper or ankle or leg portion 12 is substantially rectanvular, for `a portion thereof, with substantially parallel front and rear edges 13 and 14. The upper section 15 of the leg portion '12 converges to form a narrower section or garter portion 16. The garter section will support the garter portion of an elastic garter top sock in a more relaxed condition without unduly extending lthe elastic fabric. It will be readily apparent that this particular portion may vary considerably depending upon the character and length of the leg portion and the upper edge 2@ will terminate at a point depending upon the type stocking or the garter length of the stocking. The rear edge 14 of the leg portion 12 forming the posterior part of the lower leg and the planter or rear edge 17 of the foot portion 18 of the board will be in substantially a straight line as the leg portion 12 and the foot portion 13 are substantially collineated about the longitudinal axis of the form to facilitate the introduction of a stocking on the board. A heel 27 protrudes from -the board intermediate the foot and leg portions, however, in some forms, this heel portion may be completely omitted or modified in some suitable manner. The anterior portion or front edge 13 of the lower leg portion 12 is in substantial alignment with the d-orsum or leading edge 19 of the foot portion 18.

A score or fold line 21 extends transversely across the board intermediate thereof, and in a preferred position, this fold line may be positioned at approximately the heel location between the foot and leg portions. It has been found desirable to form the transverse line either by scoring or perforating the line at suitably spaced positions to facilitate marking and folding the board in the same position.

The foot portion 18 of the board has a forward or toe section 22, which is also integrally formed with the board, with the forward and rear edges 23 and 24, respectively, being continuations of the edges 13, 19 and 14 and 17, respectively, and in collinear relationship thereto. The edges 23 and 24 converge to form a rounded terminal tip 25. The toe section 22 extends forwardly of the score or fold line 26 that extends transversely across the board intermediate the foot portion thereof.

.The longitudinal length of the toe or forward foot section 22 of the board will vary in length depending upon the foot size of the stocking to be supported thereon. For the purpose of illustration only, and presenting one type of board size, a stocking size l() for men will measure l() inches in length from the tip of the toe to a point intermediate the heel. The board that will be utilized for this particular size stocking may have a score or fold line 21 spaced 10i/2 inches from the tip 2S of the rounded toe perimeter with the second fold line 26 being 21/2 inches from the tip 25 thereby presenting a longitudinal reach of 8 inches between the fold lines 21 and 26. For supporting stockings having sizes lOl/2, 11, 111/2, 12 and larger sizes, the longitudinal distance between the fold lines 21 and 26 will remain the same thereby permitting a uniform overall hosiery package length regardless of the foot size. It is to be understood, however,

that this would be applicable to mens hosiery. For childrens hosiery, the overall length of the package will vary within the category of stocking sizes, as will the overall package length for boys stockings. To accommodate the larger sizes, the longitudinal distance between the fold line 26 will be greater and the sizes shorter than size l0 will have the longitudinal distance from the fold line 26 reduced. Accordingly, a size lOl/2 stocking will have a length of the toe section from the score line 216 to the tip of 3 inches; `for stocking size ll, the distance from the score line will be 31/2 inches; for size 111/2, the distance will be 4 inches.

The board B or 11, represents one for accommodating a stocking having a longer length than for board A or 10. The score line 30 intermediate the foot portion 18 of board B is positioned in the same location as the fold line 26 in board A. The longitudinal distance between the score lines 21 and 30 in board B will be the same as the longitudinal distance between the score lines 21 and 26 in board A. However, the longitudinal distance between the score line 30 and the terminal tip of the toe portion 22 in board B will be longer than the longitudinal distance between the score line 26 and the terminal tip 25 of board A.

To more accurately control the volume of the stocking for the foot portion, the board described above will have a width of 31/2 inches between the front and rear edges thereof. it will be readily Aapparent that the board will vary depending upon the thickness or denier of the yarns, the thickness of the board, the needle cylinder size from which the fabric was knit, and these factors must be considered to determine the plane area of the board.

T o formulate the hosiery package, a sock corresponding in size to the board size may be placed on the board by one of the devices now conventionally in use for supporting the cardboard insert, such as that shown in Patent No. 2,852,171. As shown in FIG 2, a pair of socks 33 is supported on the single insert with one of the garter tops 34 of the inner sock extending above the other garter portion 35 of the outer sock. Although FIGS. 2 and 3 present a pair of socks on a single board, it is contemplated that a single sock may be supported on a single board. Also, it is contemplated that one sock may be placed on a single board iand the other sock of a pair laidin contiguous with the board but `not surrounding the board or another sock.

FIG. 4 illustrates `the package formed in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the toe section 22 folded `about the score line 25 thereby forming the first fold of the hosiery package. The package formed, as shown in FIG. 4, may again be folded lalong the score line 21 thereby forming a hosiery package having an overall length substantially corresponding to the longitudinal distance between the score lines 21 and 26. In the event a hosiery package having a longer toe section 22 is employed, the toe tip 25 will extend closer `to the fold line El but the overall length of the package will still be determined by the longitudinal distance between the score lines 21 and 26. Upon folding the package along the score lines 21 and 26, suitable labels, bands or other hosiery packaging materials may be employed as desired by the individual hosiery manufacturer `thereby producing a uniform length package in which the toe portion is folded between the outer foot portion and the leg portion of the package. That is, the tee section 22 will lie between the foot portion 18 and the leg portion 12.

A preferred form of hosiery packing is illustrated in FIG. 5 in the form of an envelope 4t) formed of a suitable paper having the requisite identifying designations thereon, including whatever trademark and hosiery specification may be required. The envelope is provided with laterally extending tabs 41 and `ft2 to which have been applied a suitable `adhesive 43. The envelope is provid-cd with `a toe receiving pocket 44 for yreceiving the folded foot portion as shown in FiG. 4 therein. The end of the envelope opposite from the tabs 41 and 42 vis provided with a closure flap 45 in which the medial portion 46 forms a rider band that has been removed from the closure flap 45. As shown in FIG. 6, the folded foot portion is introduced into the open envelope 40 with the llaps 41 and 44 extending intermediate the length of the hosiery package and board with -the folded toe portion being seated in the bottom of the envelope.

After introduction o-f the folded foot sections into the envelope y40, the leg portion 12 is folded over the inside portion of the envelope partially covering the Ielo-sure flap 45 with the reduced garter portion of the board with the stockings thereon. The rider ap `46, having a suitable adhesive 47 thereon, is then adhered to the itop portion of the package. The flap strip 48 on which the flaps 41 and 42 extend laterally therefrom, is folded over the lower leg portion and the llaps 4'1 and 42 are turned to adhere to the front face 49 of the envelope 40. As shown in FIG. 8, the face 149 of the envelope will have the tabs 41 and 42 adhered thereto land the rider label 46 mlay be cut out so as to be hingedly connected along the line 50. It has been found desirable to apply a separate rider 51 in some instances so las to facilitate the printing of the rider and the envelope separately. In some instances, the rider 46 may be formed integrally, as shown, but a separate gumrned rider 51 may also be applied over the rider flap 46.

As will be readily apparent, the overall length of the package iormed regardless of the foot size or of the stockings will be the same thereby presenting a standard uniform length land width package for display. Suitable transparent covering (not shown) such as cellophane may be applied ovler the entire package, as desired.

Obviously, many modiiieations and variations may be made to the configuration of the board as well as the specific location ci the pair of fold lines Without departing from the purpose and spirit of this inventive concept. A'lso, the Idesign of the hosiery-receiving envelope may be modied to receive any selective portion or portions of the uniform coordinated hosiery package and such valriations are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

1. A size coordinated sock package comprising a substantially still foldable integrally formed sock insert of sheet material, said sock insert having a leg portion and a vfoot portion with said foot portion having a folclable toe section, said leg and foot portions being collineated, a pair of spaced-apart transverse ifold positions intermediate the length of the insert, one of the fold positions being spaced from the terminal end of the toe section and the other fold position being longitudinally spaced lfrom said one fold position forming from the remaining foot portion a foot section equal in length to the length of the leg section, and at least one sock enveloping the insert in a slightly tensioned condition.

2. A size coordinated uniform sock package for hosiery of -diilerent foot sizes comprising a substantially still integrally formed ioldable sock insert of sheet material, said insert having substantially collineated leg and foot portions, thle length of the foot portions of the insert being substantially commensurate with the foot size of the sock to be placed on the insert, at least two spaced apart transverse fold positions on the insert, one of said fold positions being substantially equidistant from the terminal end of the insert at the leg portion to the other fold position on the insert, said other fold position being intermediate the foot portion defining a terminal toe section, the length of the toe section for `different foot sizes varying in accordance with the sock foot size of the 'hosiery to be placed on the insert, and a sock enveloping and supported in a slightly tensioned condition on the insert.

3. A size coordinated uniform sock package for hosiery of different foot sizes comprising a substantially stiff foldable integrally formed sock insert of sheet material, said sock insert having leg and foot portions collineated along Ia common longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced apart parallel transverse fold positions intermediate the :length of the insert, one of the fold positions deiining the toe section of the insert, one of the yfold positions being spaced therefrom at a predetermined distance intermediate the toe deiining fold position and the leg portion to form two substantially equal length remaining sections on the insert, and at least one sock enveloping the insert in a slightly tensioned condition.

4. A sock package insert integrally formed of substantially stiff folclable sheet material, said insert having a straight leading edge and -a straight trailing edge, said leading edge and said trailing edge being parallel to one another `formlng leg and foot portions therebetween, a pair of spaced apart parallel transverse fold indicia intermediate the insert longitudinal length, one of said indicia being positioned intermediate tlre foot portion to form a toe section and the other indicium `dividing the remaining portion of the insert into substantially equal sections.

i5. A sock package insert integrally formed of a substantially still yfoldable sheet material, said insert having leg 1and foot portions collineated along a common longitudinal axis, and a pair of parallel spaced-apart transverse fold indicia intermediate the insert longitudinal length, one of said indicia being positioned intermediate the foot portion to form a toe section 'and the other indicium dividing the remaining portion of the insert into two substantially equal sections.

6. A sock package insert integrally formed of a substantially stili foldable sheet material, said insert having colljneated foot and leg portions and a pair of spaced apart transverse fold indicia intermediate the insert longitudinal length, one of said indicia being positioned intermediate the foot portion to form a toe section and the other indicium dividing the remaining portion of the insert into two equal sections. l

7. A sock package insert integrally `formed of a substantially stiff `foldable sheet material, said insert having tudinal axis, la pair of parallel spaced apart transverse fold lines intermediate the longitudinal length of the insert, said iold lines being normal to the longitudinal axis of the insert, one of said fold lines being positioned intermediate the foot portion to form a toe section and the other fold lines dividing the remaining portion of the insert into two substantially equal sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,354,849 Causer Aug. 1, 1944 2,696,297 Berry Dec. 7, 1954 2,727,618 Danziger Dec. 20, 1955 2,742,149 Berry Apr. 17, 1956 2,810,477 Mclnnes Oct. 22, 1957 2,904,171 Getaz Sept. 15, 1959 

5. A SOCK PACKAGE INSERT INTEGRALLY FORMED OF A SUBSTANTIALLY STIFF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL, SAID INSERT HAVING LEG AND FOOT PORTIONS COLLINEATED ALONG A COMMON LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED-APART TRANSVERSE FOLD INDICIA INTERMEDIATE THE INSERT LONGITUDINAL LENGTH, ONE OF SAID INDICIA BEING POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE FOOT PORTION TO FORM A TOE SECTION AND THE OTHER INDICIUM DIVIDING THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE INSERT INTO TWO SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL SECTIONS. 